De la Rey Venter, Executive Vice President: Africa, Shell Gas & Power

De la Rey Venter, Executive Vice President: Africa, Shell Gas & Power/Global Head of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Royal Dutch Shell Plc
(Note: currently in the process of changing roles from the former to latter)

Undergraduate Degree and Major:
B.Comm degree (finance, accounting & auditing)

Graduate School(s) / Degree(s) / Year(s):
B. Comm Honours Degree in Financial Markets (University of Johannesburg, 1997); MBA with Honors, IMD, 2001

General business management; i.e., managing a team of MDs, VPs, and GMs who in turn manage a business footprint across the continent. Then there is also a lot of focus on high-level political and commercial relationships in each country. This is because the second "generic" component of positions of this type is to (i) protect and maximize value from existing investments and (ii) deliver access to new, large-scale investment opportunities through agreements with governments, national oil companies, and other partners and competitors. The international business leadership focus of the IMD MBA, and its broad, formative impact (corporate diplomacy, leading people who lead people, and leading the integrated whole) has been absolutely invaluable to me.   

Having a sequence of jobs that is at this (turbulent but truly fascinating) intersect of global geo-politics, national politics in each country, and big business. Also, working for a company that has the capacity to influence and shape the debate and the landscape of one of the more important global themes, and with tremendous access and brand strength.

To be able to live and work in this "space" one has to be with a top-tier player in the energy industry. This means large company complexity, politics, and bureaucracy in addition to the specific challenges of the job itself.

I have always been fascinated by the intrigues of geo-politics, and by the global energy (supply and security) and environmental debates. A career right in the midst of these themes seemed like the obvious choice at the time—a decision indeed validated by the post MBA experience, which has exceeded my expectations.

Because I believed in the formative value thereof . . . and that I would leave b-school with a step change in underlying ability to drive towards and take on complex global business leadership roles.

Business development manager: Latin America & West Africa.

• People and diplomatic skills
• Timing/the ability to sense when the time is right for a particular deal construct
• The ability to be hard-driving internally whilst patient with external stakeholders and circumstances
• An above-average sense of humor

Drive, more drive, getting along with all sorts of people, self-confidence . . . not too much, but not too little either.

It is really worth the time, effort, and money—provided you can land a place at a well-rated school.

Even amongst the very top schools the programs differ materially in terms of content, overall focus, and class composition/profile. Choose a program that is the best match on these three dimensions with what you think you want to do after the MBA.